Beatrice Portinari

Beatrice Portinari (bēˈətrĭs, Ital. bāätrēˈchā pōrtēnäˈrē) [key], 1266–90, Florentine woman believed to be the Beatrice of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy and Vita nuova. He first saw Beatrice when he was nine years old, and she remained his ideal and inspiration until his death in 1321. Her identity has been the subject of much controversy.